Device for dispensing articles from chutes



oct. 3; 1944. L, STEINER 2,359,397

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES FROM CHUTES Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l 'ai v1 1 /I'Z 127 i 7mm/Ey Oct. 3, 1944.

L. sTElNERk DEVICE Fon DISPENSING'ARTICL FROM cHuTEs 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1941 .0 @dei INVENTOR. ou/5 5 75l/VER y{TTOENEY 06f. 3, 1944. L STE|NER DEVICE FOR DIsPENsING ARTICLES FROM GHUTES Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 m om w E ww -qgj TTF/Nee Arme/vw oct. 3, 1944.

Maj@ B L STEINER y 2,359,397

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES FROM CHUTES Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 154e, 1 5 153 152 BQ 1 52h INVENTOR. 7u/5 '5 TEM/ER Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE DEVICE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES FROM CHUTES Louis Steiner, New York, N. Y.

Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,722

13 Claims. ,(Cl. S12-67) This invention relates to devices for dispensing articles from chutes.

Vending machines have been known which comprise a primary chute and a secondary chute, both adapted to contain articles to be dispensed, and vmeans operative when the articles in the primary chute'have run down to a predetermined height, to swing said secondaryl chute into such position that the articles therein will pass to the primary chute to be dispensed therefrom.`

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly improved means for controlling the secondary chute, including releasable means to normally lock the primary chute in substantially Vertical position, spring means to normally urge the secondary chute to swing into the primary chute, and means controlledby the dispensing means to momentarily release the locking means each time an article is dispensed from the primary chute, to permit the spring means to swing the secondary chute into the primary chiite, if articles in the primary chute have run down below a predetermined point, and to again lock the secondary chute in vertical position if the articles in the primary chute prevent the secondary chute from swinging into the primary chute.

A further object of this invention is to provide 'in a dispensing device of the character described,

a pair of primary chutes and a pair of secondary chutes cooperating therewith, respectively, and

a single dispensing mechanism which reciprocates beneath the primary two chutes, to alternately eject articles therefrom, andl means controlled by the ejecting mechanism to normally lock the secondary chutes and to momentarily releasel the same each timegan article is ejected from'any of the primary chutes to permit the secondary chutes to swing inwardly into the primary chutes, if articles in the primary chutes are below a predetermined height, and to again lock the secondf ary chute if articles in the primary chute prevent said secondarychutes from swinging into the primary chutes. v

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. Y

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of i parts which will be exemplifiedinthe construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be `indicated in the followingclaims. v

In theA accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the'various possible illustralye embodiments of this invention, l l Y.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of dispensing' mechanism embodying theV invention; Y Fig. 2 is a front elevational viewthereof;

Fig. 3 is-a rearelevational View;

Fig. 4 is avv'iew similar to the lower end of Fig. 3; but showingv the. ejecting Vmechanism half Way through 'an' ejecting'stage;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview taken on line 5-5 of Fi`g14; i 1- .l

Fig. 6 is a ViewY similar to Fig. 3, but showing the mechanism after'an article has been lejected from one ofthe primary chutes;` 1

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the positions of one of` the secondary chutes in dot, dash lines, after it vhas swung into its associated primary chute; 1

Fig. 8 is a crosssectional 'View taken on line 8-8 of Figi '7; Y

f Fig. 9 is a'view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the position'of one of the secondary chutes, when it has swung into its primary chute;

4 Fig. "10 isA an elevational, cross-sectional view ofthe improved 'vending device; A

Fig.V 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II Vof Fig. 10; and p Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional View taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 10. Y `Referring now in detail to the drawings, Ill designates a dispensing machine embodying the invention.v vThe same comprises a casing or housing II having a baci; wall I2 and side walls I3. Rivetedto thel inner surface of the rear wall I2, as by rivets I4, is a bracket I5 having a back wall I6`contacting the back wall I2, and forwardly extending, spaced, aligned horizontal walls Il, formedat their outer ends with depending apertured earsV I8 carrying a transverse pivot pin I9. p The chute structure 20, which will be described in detail hereinafter, is pivoted at its lower end about the pivot pin I9, so that it may be swung forwardly to facilitate restocking articles therein. Said chutestructure 2li comprises a pair of similar, symmetrically disposed, double chutes V22 having back Walls 23, the lower outer corners of which are cut-away to form downwardly extending narrow portions 24 at their lower ends. EX- tending forwardly from the inner sides of back walls 23 are walls 25; and extending forwardly from theouter edges of back walls 23 above the depending portions 24 thereof, are side Walls 26. Attached to theforward edges of wall 25 are verticalfcorner pieces 2lrhaving front outwardly ex- -tending flanges 2li.V The chutes 22 are thus of a widthtoreceive one stack of articles A at their lower ends, and of a width to receive two stacks of such articles above said lower narrow ends.

The upper ends of chutes 22 are interconnected by a reinforcing bar 22a fixed to rear walls 23. Fixed to the cut-out lower end portions of chutes 22 are angle shaped members 30, each having a top horizontal wall 3| and a vertical wall 32 extending downwardly therefrom. The walls 3| serve as a bottom wallfor the widened portions of the chutes 22, whereas the walls 32 are parallel to the walls and serve as side walls for the lower ends of the chutes.

Each member may be formed with flanges 30a, 30h, 30o and 30d at the outer ends of walls 3|, and at the front and rear of walls 3| and 32, to engage the side walls 26, the rear walls 23, 24, and to cover the front lower ends of the chutes 22, respectively.

Fixed to the lower ends of the chutes 22 is a transverse member having a bottom wall 31, and upwardly extending rear flanges 35a contacting the lower ends of rear wall portions 24 and welded or otherwise secured thereto. Extending upwardly from the front ends of the bottom wall 31, are flanges 35h contacting the lower ends of flanges 30a and 30d, and welded or otherwise secured thereto. Extendingupwardly from the bottom wall 31, and between the chutes are upwardly and inwardly inclined guides 38, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Said bottom wall 31 is formed with a longitudinal slot 31a, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Welded to the flanges 35a is a bracket 42 having` apertured ears 43 to pivotally receive the piv- Ot pin I9, and to thus hinge the chute structure 20 to the back wall |2 of the casing. There is also welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall portions 24, and above the flanges 35a, a plate 45 'extending to one side of one of the chutes and formed with a longitudinal horizontal slot 46, and with an opening 41a located centrally between the chutes. Plate 45 is furthermore formed in its lower edge with a pair o f spaced notches 41, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The plate is further formedlwith a rearwardly struck out stop lug 48, disposed above the slot.

Mounted on plate 45, for the purpose hereinafter appearing, is a wire spring 49 anchored at one end, and having a free end passing through the notches 41. The plate 45 may be formed with an opening 50 to receive one end of the spring, and with a struck out clip 5I' to grip adjacent spring 50 to clamp the spring to the plate.

' The plate 45 is furthermore formed with a rearwardly punched projection 53 adjacent the inner end of slot 46.

Fixed to the front face of plate 45, as by rivets 54, and disposed between the chutes, is a U- shaped strap 55 having a front wall 56 and side walls 51. Front wall 56 is formed with a through opening 58 aligned with opening 41a in plate 45. Extending through the aligned openings 41a, 58, is a bolt 60. Pivotally mounted on the bolt, is a U- shaped member 64 having a top wall and a pair Vof parallel downwardly extending arms 66 and 61.V The arms 66 and 61 have openings to receive the bolt 60. Arm 66 is located in a parallel plane passing through the slot 31a. At the lower end of said arm 66 is a pin portion 66a, which may project into slot 31a. Fixed to arm 61 are a pair of rearwardly extending pins 68 and 69 located above and below the bolt 60. Slidably mounted on the bottom wall 31,:and guided by the guides 38'is a slider 10 formed with a central opening 1| to receive the pin 66a.

It will now be understood that oscillation of the U-shaped member 64 about the bolt 60 will cause reciprocation of the slider 10. As the slider reciprocates beneath the chutes, it will alternatingly eject articles A from the chutes sideways. Fixed to the walls 32 are light springs 13 to cause the ejected articles to drop downwardly.

Means is provided to oscillate member 64. To this end, there extends through slot 46, a bolt 15 to which there is pivoted a plate 16 parallel to plate 45 contacting the projection 53. The spring 49 contacts the lower edge of plate 16 to keep the same from dropping down. The lug 48 serves as a stop to limit upward movement of the plate 16 under action of spring 49. Said plate 16 is formed with top and bottom hooks 18 and 19 spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the pins 68 and 69.

Fixed to the rear of plate 45 is a guide plate overlapping plate 16 to keep said plate from swinging outwardly away from plate 45.

It will now be understood that as the plate bolt 15 is reciprocated, member 64 will be oscillated.

Beginning with the parts as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Movement of the bolt 15 and plate 16 to the right, will cause hook 18 to engage pin 68, swinging member 64 first to vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4; and as the movement of plate 16 is continued to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings; to cause the ejection of an article from the lower chute.

It will be noted that as the hook 18 engages the pin 68, the plate 16 will be raised to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the lower hook 19 will pass over the lower pin 69. When plate 16 moves to the left from the position shown in Fig. 6, member 64 will remain in the position to which it has been moved. Upon the next movement of plate 16 to the right, the lower hook 19 will drop as it passes spring 49 and engage the lower pin 69 to oscillate member 64 in an opposite direction, and eject an article from the opposite chutes.

Means is provided for oscillating member 16. To this end, there is provided a connecting bar 65 formed with an opening at one end to receive a bolt 15 and formed with an offset finger 86 at its other end. Finger 86 is formed with a screw threaded opening, to which there is screwed a screw 81 which may be fixed to nger 86 by a lock nut 88. There is further provided another connecting bar 90 formed with offset screw threaded fingers 9| and 92 at its opposite ends. The finger 9| receives the screw 81 and is xed to said screw by a lock nut. Screwed to finger 92 is a screw 95 iixed to said nger by a lock nut 96.

Screwed to the screw 95 is an angle shaped member 98 having a foot 99 formed with a screw threaded opening to receive said screw, said foot being fixed to the screw by a lock nut |00. Extending from the foot 99 is an arm |0| formed with a through opening |02. Pivoted to a fixed pivot |03 on the casing is a triangular plate |04, a pair of corners whereof are formed with slots |06 and |01, respectively. Attached to opposite sides of the plate are strip springs ||0, each formed with an opening The walls or opposite sides of slot |06 are formed with openings ||2 to receive balls H3. The balls ||3 are pressed inwardly by the springs 0, said balls partially projecting into the openings in said springs.

Arm I projects into the slot |06 andthe balls H3 project into the opening |02 thereof, to thus connect member 98 toplate'l04.- The connection "between member 98 and plate |04 permits pivotal movement between member 98and plate |04 and also permits tilting of member 08 about a horizontal axis in the plane of slot |06, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

ciprocation of members 90 and85, and henceof v.plate 16. If the chute structure 'istiltedfor- :1

wardly to permit refilling, in a mannerY hereinafter to be explained, members 85, V90 and. 98 tilt therewith about the ball connection |.|3. l.

Each of the chutes 22 is of such width as t0 contain two stacks of articles, and the chamber within said chute is thus divided into a portion |20 which may be termed a primary chute, and extends from the top of the chute downto the bottom wall 31, and asecond portion |2| in which extending anges |26, the chute thus being open at the front. The back wallsY |24 are-pivotally connected by pins |21 to the back walls 23 of the chutes |22. The chutes |23 may thus swing.` in- 4:

wardly to bring the lower ends thereof into the chambers |20, so that articles within the secondary chutes may pass into the primary chutes. It will be noted that the inner side walls 25 form, together with the inner walls |25,`side walls for -the primary chutes or chambers |20.

When articles A in the primary chutes are above the lower ends of the inner side walls |25, the secondary chutes cannot swing inwardly. However, when the articles in the primary chutes are dispensed to bring articles in the primary chutes below the lower ends of the; secondary chutes, said secondary chutes will be swung inwardly by means of coil tension springs |30. One end of each spring is fixed to a bar |3| fixed to each wall 25. The other' end of each spring 30 is fixed to a bar 33 fixed to the outer side of wall |25 of each secondary chute1|23.` The bars |33 project rearwardly through openings Yor cut-outs |33a in the back walls, The bars 33 `move within said cut-outs, as the chutes |23 swin inwardly.

Means is provided to normally lock the secondary chutes in vertical position against inward swinging movement and to momentarily release i said chutes each time an article is dispensed from any of the primary chutes to permitthe springs |30 to swing the secondary chutes inwardly should the articles in Ythe primary chutes be below the lower ends of thev secondary chutes, said locking means being adapted to againlock the secondary chutes against inward swinging movement if the secondary chutes are' held against inward swinging movement when Vreleased, by articles in the primary chute. end, there is fixed to the back walls 23, above the lower ends of the chambers 2 l, a transverse plate |35 located just below the cut-outs |33a.

- Plate |35 is formed with an opening |36 located vertically above the opening 41 in plate 45. Extending through tl'ie opening |36Y is ya bolt |31. Fixed to the top wall 65 of member 64, is an angle shaped member |40 having an upstanding finger |4|. Pivotally connected tothe finger' |4| is a bar |42 formed with va longitudinal slot |43,

.is housed a secondary chute |23. Each chute 23 vhas a back wall |24, sidewalls |25, and inwardly To this |50 and |5|, are bars V|52 and |53.

`disengage its associated bar |33.

lof the secondary chutes, the

through which the bolt |31 passes. Welded to the bar |42,'on oppositev sides of slot |43, are plates |45 forming a slot therebetween, through which the bolt |31 likewise passes. Interposed between a nut |46 on the bolt |31 and plates |45, is a washer contacting lsaid plates.

It .will now be understood that as member 64 isoscillated, bar |42 ktogether with plates |45 'will oscillate oppositely.

Pivoted to the upper ends of plate |45, as at Adjustably connected to the bars |5| and |52 are bars |54 and |55, respectively. Bars 54 and |55 are 'formed with pairs of slots to receiveV headed screws fixed to the. bars |52 and |53, so that the bars |54 and |55'may be xed to the bars |52, |53, respectively, in various .longitudinally adjusted positions.

At the outer ends of bars |52 and |53 are portions |52a and |53a projecting beyond bars |54, |55, said projecting portions being connected by coil tension springs |52b and I53b to lugs |52c and |53c, respectively, fixed to the outer surfaces of the side walls 26 above the cut-outs |33a. The bars 54 and |55 are formed with angular cutouts |54a and |55a in the upper outer corners thereof, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Fixed to the 'back walls 23 are brackets |60 and |61 having downwardly extending portions |60a and |6|a serving as guides for the bars |52. At the upper ends oi guide portions |60a and I6|a are shoulders |601) and |6|b for the purpose hereinafter appearing,

The operation of the control mechanism for the secondary chutes will now be described. Beginning with the parts as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the bar |33 on one secondary chute |23 engages in the angular shoulder |54a of barA |54 to lock said secondary chute in substantially vertical position, so that it cannot swing inwardly. Spring |52b'pulling up on bars |52, |54 retains the shoulder |54a in engagement with said bar |33. The other bar `|33 may be engaged by the outer end of bar |55 to keep the other secondary chute in vertical position.

As plate 16 is moved to the right to eject an article from the lower end of one of the primary chutes, member 64: isY oscillated 'in a clockwise direction, and bar |42 is oscillated in a counterclockwise direction. As plates |45 Vswing about and upwardly on the bolt |31, bar |53 will first swing about its outer end until it contacts shoulderllb of bracket |6I.4 Bar |53,will then swing in a clockwise direction about pvot |5| to release its associated bar |33. At the same time, bar |52 will also swing upwardly about its outer end until it vcontacts vshoulder |6017 of bracket |60, after whichit will swing downwardly, or in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot to When the bars |33 are released, the springs |30 will-urge the secondarychutesnwardly. However, if articles in the primary chutes are above the lower ends secondary chutes cannot swing inwardly.

The released positions of the secondary chutes is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, with articles -in the primary chutes preventing the Vsecondary chutes from being swung inwardly. As plate 16 continues movement to the right, the parts wil1 move to the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. As the parts move from the position shown in Fig. 4 to theposition shown inFig. 6, bars |52 and'v |53 will be retracted or pulled somewhat inwardly to permit the springs |5211 and |53b to pull said bars' upwardly to again engage the bars |33 in secondary chutes for again locking said secondary chutes in vertical position.

When the plate 16 reciprocates, a subsequent time, member 64 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig, 6 to the position shown in Fig. '1, and bar |42 will rotate in a clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig. '1. During such action, the secondary chutes are again released and then relocked. However,'should the articles in one of the primary chutes then be below the secondary chute associated with said primary chutes, said secondary chute will be swung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. '1, while the other secondary chute is again relocked. If the articles in the other primary chute are below the secondary chute associated therewith, then the other secondary chute will also swing inwardly automatically. Thus, when the articles in the primary chutes are dispensed to a predetermined degree, the articles in the secondary chutes will automatically be fed to the primary chutes.

Means is provided to retain the chute structure 20 in forwardly tilted position to facilitate restocking of the chutes. To this end, there is xed to the back wall |2 a bracket |10 having parallel walls |1| extending forwardly between the chutes 22 and interconnected at their front end by a wall |13. There is also xed to the back wall I2, above bracket |10, a second bracket |15, having forwardly extending parallel walls |16 carrying a transverse pivot pin or bolt |11, and interconnected at the front by a wall |18 eutaway at its upper end, as at |19. Pivoted to the bolt or pivot pin |11, is a lever |80 formed with a notch |8| at its lower end to form a hook |82. The upper end of the lever |80 is interconnected to a plate |85 fixed to the back walls 23, and disposed above the bracket by a coil tension spring |86.

It will be noted that the lever |80 passes between the parallel walls |16 of bracket |15, and also between the parallel walls |1| on bracket |10. When the chute structure is in vertical position, spring |86 presses the lever against front wall of bracket |10. As the chute structure is swung forwardly about pivot I9, the lever |80 is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 1 of the drawings, thus, sliding against the front wall until the hook |82 engages said front wall to retain the chute structure against further movement, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In such position, the spring |86 cannot exert any tension to pull the chute structure back to vertical position because the spring is then substantially at right angles to the lever |80-` In such position, pressure of the lever on bracket |10 is substantially in a downward direction, so that there is substantially no horizontal component force which would urge the chute structure back to vertical position. However, if the chute structure is pushed upwardly, the spring |86 gradually begins to exert the force to complete the upward swinging movement of the chute structure to vertical position because of a gradual increasing horizontal component force exerted by the lever on the front wall |13 of the bracket |10. It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as rillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I lclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A dispensing device comprising a primary chute, a secondary chute hinged thereto, a spring interconnecting the secondary chute with the primary chute and adapted to swing the lower end of the secondary chute into the primary chute, a member slidably mounted on a fixed rpivot, a second member connected to the first member and adapted to engage said secondary chute, to retain the same against swinging into the primary chute, spring means to retain the second member in locking engagement with said secondary chute, means to dispense articles from the primary chute, and means controlled by the dispensing means to oscillate said rst member.

2. A dispensing device comprising a primary chute, a secondary chute hinged thereto, a spring interconnecting the secondary chute with the primary chute and adapted to swing the lower end of the secondary chute into the primary chute, a member slidably mounted on a fixed pivot, a second member connected to the first member and adapted to engage said secondary chute, 'to retain the same against swinging into the primary chute, spring means to retain the second member in locking engagement with said secondary chute, means to dispense articles from the primary chute; means controlled by the dispensing means to oscillate said rst member, and fixed stop means adapted to engage an intermediate portion of salid second member at an intermediate lpoint in the oscillation of said first member.

3. A dispensing device comprising a pair of primary chutes, a pair of secondary chutes hinged at their upper ends to the primary chutes, sa'id primary chutes extending below said secondary chutes, spring means toV swing the lower ends of thesecondary chutes into the primary chutes, means to alternately eject articles from the lower ends of said primary chutes, means to normally releasably lock the secondary chutes against inward swinging movement, and means controlled by the ejecting means to release said locking means to permit the secondary chutes to swing inwardly into the secondary chutes, if there are no articles in the primary chutes above the lower Iends of the secondary chutes, and again relock the secondary -chutes against inward swinging movement if said secondary chutes are held against inward swinging movement when they are released, by articles inA the primary chutes above the lower ends of the secondary chutes.

4. A dispensing device comprising a pair of parallel primary chutes, secondary chutes pivoted at their upper ends to the primary chutes, spring means interconnecting the lower ends of the secondary chutes with the primary chutes and to swing the lower ends of the secondary chutes into the primary chutes, said primary chutes extending below said secondary chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said primary chutes adapted to be reciprocated to alternately eject articles from said primary chutes, a plate fixed to said primary chutes and formed with a horizontal slot, a member slidably mounted in said slot, a plate pivoted to said member and having top and bottom hooks, a U-shaped member having downwardly extending arms interconnected' at their upper ends, one arm having means to engage said slider, said arms being pivoted at intermediate portions thereof about a horizontal axis,' said other arm having pins above and belowy the pivot for said U-shaped member,` adapted to be alternately engaged by said hooks as said member is reciprocated in said slot, a iixed pivot, a member formed with a slot slidably receiving said last pivot and pivotally connected at its lower end to said U-shaped member, a pair of bars pivoted to the member which slidably receives the fixed pivot, and said pair of bars having means to engage said secondary chutes to retain said secondary chutes against being swung into the primary chutes by said spring means.

5. A dispensing device comprising a pair of parallel primary chutes, secondary chutes pivoted at their upper ends to the primary chutes,A spring means interconnecting the lower ends of the secondary chutes with the primary chutes and to swing the lower ends of the secondary chutes into the primary chutes, said primary chutes extending below said secondary chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said primary chutes adapted to be reciprocated toalternately eject articles from said primary chutes, a plate xed to said primary chutes and formed with a horizontal slot, a member slidably mounted in said slot, a plate pivoted to said member and having top and bottom hooks, a U-shaped member having downwardly extending arms interconnected at their upper ends, one arm having means to engage said slider, said arms being pivoted at intermediate portions thereof about a horizontal axis, said other arm having pins above and below the pivot for said U-shaped member adapted to be alternately engaged by said hooks as said member is reciprocated in said slot, a fixedpivot, a member formed with a slot slidably receiving saidV last pivot an'd pivotally connected at its lower end to said U-shaped member, a pair of bars pivoted to the member which slidably receives the xed pivot, and said pair of bars having means to vengage said secondary chutes to retain said secondary chutes against being swung into the primary chutes by said spring means, and spring means exerting upward pull on the outer ends of said =pair of bars to retain the said pair of bars in engagement with said secondary chutes. Y

6. A dispensing device comprising a pair of parallel primary chutes, secondary chutes pivoted at their upper ends to the primary chutes, spring means interconnecting the lower ends of the secondary chutes with the primary chutes and to swing the lower ends of the secondary chutes into the primary chutes, said primary chutes extending below said secondary chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said primary chutes adapted to be reciprocated to alternately eject articles from said primary chutes, a plate iixed to said primary chutes and formed with a horizontal slot, a member slidably mounted in said slot, a plate pivoted to said member and having top and bottom hooks, a U-shaped member having downwardly extending arms interconnected at their upper ends, one arm having means to engage said slider, said arms being pivoted at intermediate portions thereof about a horizontal axis, said other arm having pins above and below the pivot for said U-s-haped member, adapted to be alternately engaged by said hooks as said member vis reciprocated in said slot, a xed pivot, a member formed with a slot slidably receiving said last pivot and pivotally connected at its lower end to said U-shaped member, a pair of bars pivoted to the memberr which slidably receives the iixed pivot, said pairL of bar-s having means to engage said secondary chutes to retain said secondary chutes against being swung into the primary chutes by said spring means, spring means exerting upward pullV on the outer ends of s-aid pair of bars to retain the said pair of bars in engagement with said secondary chutes, and a pair of brackets on said' primary chutes adapted to engage intermediate portions of said bars.

7. A dispensing device comprising a primary chute, `a secondary chute movable into said primary chute, a member pivotally and slidably mounted on a xed pivot, a second member pivoted to the iirst member and adapted to engage said secondary chute to retain the same against movement into the primary chute, means to bias said second member to position for engaging said secondary chute, means to dispense articles from said primary chute, means controlled by said dis`v pensing means to oscillate said rst member, andA means adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the second lmember as said i'lrst member is oscillated to cause said second member to disendA gage said secondary chute, and means to'move said secondary chute into said primary chute upon said second member disengaging said'secondary chute if articles in said primary chute have been dispensed below a predetermined point.

8. A dispensing device comprising a pair of` primary chutes, a pairv of secondary chutes movable into said pair of primary chutes, respectively, means to alternately eject articles from the-,primary chutes, a pair of members adapted toengage' said pair of secondary chutes respectively to re-- tain the same against movement into the primary chutes, and means to disengage and "reengage said members with said secondary' chutes, each time an article is ejected' from either of Ysaid primary chutes, and means to move said secondary chutes into the primary chutes upon disengaging said members from said secondary chutes, if articles in said primary chutes have been dispensed below a predetermined point.

9. A dispensing device comprising a pair of primary chutes and a pair of secondary chutes disposed adjacent to and parallel with said primary chutes respectively, means to alternately dispense articles from said primary chutes, means to normally latch the secondary chutes against movement into the primary chutes, and means controlled by the dispensing means to release said latch means, means to move the secondary chutes into the primary chutes, upon release of said latch means if the articles in the primary chutes have been dispensed below a predetermined point, and said release means operable to relatch said latch means if articles in said primary chutes are above said predetermined point, so as to prevent movement of said secondary chutes into the primary chutes, when said latch means are released.

l0. A dispensing device comprising a primary chute, a secondary chute disposed parallel with and adjacent to said primary chute, a member engaging said secondary chute to retain the same against movement into the primary chute, means to dispense articles from said primary chute, means to urge said retaining means into position for retaining engagement with the secondary chute, means controlled by said dispensing means to engage said retaining member against a stop to move the retaining member out of retaining position and then automatically release said retaining member from the stop to permit said urging means to again move said retaining member back to position for retaining said secondary chute, and means to move the secondary chute into the primary chute upon release of said retaining means if articles in said primary chutes have been dispensed below a predetermined point.

11. A dispensing device comprising a pair of primary chutes, a pair of secondary chutes having upper and lower ends, said secondary chutes being hinged at their upper ends to the primary chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said primary chutes adapted to alternately eject articles from the primary chutes when said slider is reciprocated, a member having upper and lower ends, and being pivoted mediately the ends thereof, and connected at its lower end to said slider, a iixed pivot, a member slidably mounted on the fixed pivot and having an upper and a lower end, and being pivoted at its lower end to the upper end of the iirst pivoted member, a pair of members pivoted to the member which is slidably mounted on the xed pivot, and adapted to releasably engage said secondary chutes, to retain the same against inward swinging movement, and spring means to swing the lower ends of the secondary chutes inwardly into the primary chutes, when said secondary chutes are released if articles in said primary chutes have been dispensed below a predetermined point.

12. A dispensing device comprising a pair of primary chutes, a pair of secondary chutes having upper and lower ends and being hinged at their upper ends to the primary chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said primary chutes adapted to alternately eject articles from the primary chutes when said slider is reciprocated, a member having upper and lower ends and being pivoted mediately the ends thereof, and connected at its lower endV to said slider, a xed pivot, a member slidably mounted on the iixed pivot and having upper and lower ends and being pivoted at its lower end to the upper end of the rst pivoted member, a pair of memberspivoted to the member which is slidably mounted on the fixed pivot, and adapted to releasably engage said secondary chutes, to retain the same against inward swinging movement, spring means to swing the lower ends of the secondary chutes inwardly into the primary chutes, when said secondary chutes are released, if articles in said primary chutes have been dispensed below a predetermined point, and spring means to urge said pair of members into engagement with said secondary chutes.

13. A dispensing device comprising a pair of primary chutes, a pair of secondary chutes hinged at their upper ends to the primary chutes, a slider at the lower ends of said primary chutes adapted to alternately eject articles from the primary chutes when said slider is reciprocated, a member having upper and lower ends and being pivoted mediately the ends thereof, and connected at its lower end to said slider, a xed pivot, a member slidably mounted on the fixed pivot and having upper and lower ends and being pivoted at its lower end to the upper end of the rst pivoted member, a pair of members pivoted to the member which is slidably mounted on the fixed pivot, and adapted to releasably engage said secondary chutes, to retain the same against inward swinging movement, and spring means to swing the lower ends of the secondary chutes inwardly into the primary chutes, when said secondary chutes are released, if articles in said primary chutes have been dispensed below a predetermined point, spring means to urge said pair of members into engagement with said secondary chutes, and stop means adapted to engage intermediate portions of said pair of members during an intermediate point in the oscillation of the member which is slidably mounted on the xed pivot.

LOUIS STEINER. 

